Re: Dwarf Freshwater Puffers and Oscars 9/16/09
Thanks for all the tips on feeding! I bought some frozen brine for the Oscars and silversides for the lionfish. I don't have tweezers or forceps but I did try to carefully dangle a silverside at the water surface and Lucifer the Lionfish struck almost instantly.
<Glad to hear it! Now, mix things up as much as possible. The more variety you offer, the healthier your Lionfish and the less likely he will be to go on a hunger strike. Feel free to "gut load" the lancefish with some
Spirulina flake by ramming the flakes into the abdomen or mouth of the thing. Get the vitamins into the Lionfish that way, and you won't have much to worry about.>
Oscars are eating great now too. Thanks!
<You are most welcome. Cheers, Neale.>

Happy Update (Bob, do read and comment on Pterois if required)  09/24/09
Hey guys I just wanted to send a quick e-mail to say that I really appreciate a website like yours.
<I'm sure Bob and everyone else where will be please to hear this.>
I think your website is an amazing wealth of information not just to me, but to everyone in the hobby. I work at a LFS so every time I can't answer a question I refer them to this site.
<Great!>
Again I just thought I would right an email to let you guys know I have been following all the advice I find on the website and through asking questions. My Oscars are all growing and have healthy appetites and after only 2 weeks with them I can already tell their individual personalities.
<Wonderful fish for just this reason. Great "pets" in the full sense of the word.>
My lionfish is also greedily accepting frozen foods now without me having to make it seem alive.
<Victory! Yes, this is what happens once they "learn" that when you approach the tank, something edible appears. Instead of their feeding instinct being triggered by a wriggling live fish or whatever, it's triggered by seeing you.>
Since the 125 he resides in is so lonely looking now I am thinking of adding one of the more easy going triggerfish (Pinktail), and maybe some dwarf fuzzy lions.
<Bob might have comments to make here, but broadly, I'd keep Triggers away from Lionfish. The risk of nipping is just too great. Melichthys vidua is certainly a contender for the title of Most Placid Trigger, but still...
pushing your luck I fear. How about something less nippy but equally lively? Like a Hogfish? As for mixing Lionfish species, it's certainly possible, and some species are gregarious in the wild, but you need ample space for those species that are intolerant of conspecifics. It goes without saying that a big Lionfish might view a small one as food, with obviously fatal consequences for both parties!>
My only other tankmates I might consider are a maroon clown, or a bullseye Jawfish after I research the adult size on the later.
<Jawfish would be Lionfish food; Maroon Clown a gamble, and probably a risk one, even for a "friendly" Lionfish weaned onto other foods. Anything that can be swallowed, or even looks like it might be swallowed, will be swallowed. Lionfish are top predators in their habitat, and view small perciforms as food. Would suggest looking at Labrids, Hogfish, perhaps hardy Angels like French Angels as tankmates.>
Once again you guys are the best. Thanks! -Ray
<Cheers, Neale.><<I agree with you, your stmt.s Neale. RMF>>

Lion Question... fdg.  9/7/09
Hi again. Your help and advice has been extremely useful thus far. I now have an issue with a lionfish I purchased which I can't find the answer to.
It's regarding to him eating. I purchased a Volitans about 2 weeks ago from a store. He's about 6inches long. I did see him eat two bits of frozen prawn at the store. He was in a tank with 3 others around his size. When I took him home I acclimatised, not quarantined, him and fed him some more bits of prawn, at night with the lights out, over a couple of days, which he ate. Ever since, however, he refuses to eat anything I offer him. It's been about two weeks since his last meal. I tried frozen prawn, clam and squid and even put two mollies in there. He initially chased the mollies but then gave up. I can't seem to find ghost shrimp anywhere. He doesn't hide at all, but tends to sit on a rock all day long. The tank is around 550 litres with LR only. Filtration is more than required. His tank mates are a 5 inch harlequin tusk, 5 inch fox face and a 3 inch Picasso, none of which bully him, or that I have seen anyway.
<Won't necessarily see this... though is occurring>
All important water parameters are excellent, as confirmed by the store.
The temp. is set to 25 deg, of which I was told by the same store to raise it as high as 27? I have noticed very slightly "cloudy" eyes with minor scratches(?) on them, but nothing that looks too serious.
<Mmmm, what re water quality test results? In particular nitrate readings>
The store is kind enough to either exchange it or offer store credit. Is it worth the hassle of going through this whole ordeal again, or should I be patient and not give up?
<I urge patience>
My thoughts are he is still acclimatising, or is full, or is actually being bullied when I'm not around. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Apologies for the lengthy email but I've tried to include as much info as possible.
Kind regards,
John Catanzariti
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/lionfdgfaq2.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Lionfish not eating -- suggestions? Reading    8/19/09
Hi, crew. I'm having an issue with my lionfish. I know that they can go on "hunger strikes" but I'm seeing an odd specific behavior that I wanted to consult you guys about.
<Did you read before writing?>
I have a 120 gallon reef tank. Vital stats as follows: Temp ~ 80 (fan over the water full-time); pH ~ 8.1; salinity ~ 1.025; Ca ~ 350; Alk ~ 3.5 meq/l; PO4, NO3 ~ 0.
<Zip? Really? How? Chemical filtrant may be at fault here>
I run a sump with a Euro-Reef skimmer (forgot the model, but it's the recommended size for the water volume), activated carbon in a fluidized bed filter, and have a small refugium. Lighting is 8x54w T5 (10K and AquaBlue).
Circulation is via a 1270 gal/hr pump, plus a VorTech pump.
Inhabitants are a yellow tang, barred ("dragon") goby, Christmas wrasse, a few damsels, a long-nosed Hawkfish, starry blenny, and a Radiata lionfish.
I have what I now know to be an unfortunate collection of corals (hence the carbon...): frogspawn, green star polyps, a leather, a galaxea, plus a random assortment of yellow and button zoanthids and Palys, plus some random mushrooms.
<These might be "warring", poisoning the system, but...>
There's also a fair amount of xenia in there (a few different varieties) plus a rather unhappy Monitpora capricornis.
One significant thing is that I have been battling a bad Bryopsis outbreak -- like, it has taken over the tank -- and have tried lots of different approaches: reducing feeding, Phosban,
<I would discontinue the use of this material>
increasing pH, and, most recently, increasing magnesium. I brought levels up to about 1800.
<And this... way too high in proportion to Ca... should be about three times... as much>
Perhaps I did this too fast, because...
A little over a week ago, I noticed a sudden change in the health of the tank. The Montipora bleached badly; the frogspawn was retracted; and the lionfish was hiding in the corner (unusual). No other critters seemed affected. I did an immediate 20 gallon water change which seemed to stabilize the corals. I have since done another one, and will do a third tonight
<Likely the disproportionality>
Now, for the lion: he spent about three days in the corner acting very lethargic. Usually, right about lights-out, he starts patrolling the reef looking for food. He didn't leave his cave. He also usually "alerts" when I open the lid of the aquarium, waiting for food (he gets a krill, or a piece of shrimp, scallop, or squid, about three times per week).
<This is a problem too... These foods are too fatty as a steady diet>
Feedings ten and seven days ago, he never even noticed the presence of the food. Just sat there. A few days ago, he came out at feeding time, "hunted" the krill (his favorite), but his feeding strike was very weak, not nearly enough to "suck in" the food. He did the same this morning. He "cornered" the krill, waving his fins and tail, looking eager; closed to feeding distance; and then did this little "kiss" strike. Then, swam away.
Does this sound at all familiar?
<Yes...>
We absolutely adore this fish, and don't want to lose him.
Thanks,
Dan
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/lions&rels.htm
and the linked files above... and the subjects I mention... search and read re them on WWM. Your problems are iatrogenic; self-induced. Bob Fenner>

Re: Lionfish not eating -- suggestions?  8/20/09
Bob,
<Dan>
Thanks for your prompt reply and the valuable information. I was hoping to clarify a few points, if I may.
> Hi, crew. I'm having an issue with my lionfish. I know that they can go on "hunger strikes" but I'm
> seeing an odd specific behavior that I wanted to consult you guys about.
> <Did you read before writing?>
Yes, I'm actually an avid reader of WWM. Since I got your reply last night, I re-read most of the lionfish feeding and disease FAQs just to be sure.
<<I see; good>>
> NO3 ~ 0.
> <Zip? Really? How? Chemical filtrant may be at fault here>
I have never had measurable nitrate in my tank, post-cycle (at least, it's well under 10 -- I haven't gotten a high-sensitivity test). It could be my 4" DSB with plenum; or the algae in the tank is scavenging all available nitrate and phosphate(?).
<<Thank you for this. As you know, high NO3 by itself can be a "cause" here>>
> One significant thing is that I have been battling a bad Bryopsis outbreak -- like, it has taken over the tank -- and have tried lots of different approaches: reducing feeding, Phosban,
> <I would discontinue the use of this material>
I did as soon as I started seeing the problems.
> increasing pH, and, most recently, increasing magnesium. I brought levels
> up to about 1800.
> <And this... way too high in proportion to Ca... should be about three times... as much>
This was a deliberate action after reading the numerous success stories on Reef Central regarding the use of increased magnesium to combat Bryopsis.
I recognized that this was out of "norm" but the anecdotal evidence was strong (and others reported no detrimental effects to their corals/fish).
<<Did this work for you?>>
> [the lionfish] gets a krill, or a piece of shrimp, scallop, or squid, about three times per week).
> <This is a problem too... These foods are too fatty as a steady diet>
This is the main point I wanted clarification on. I chose this diet when I got the fish (about two years ago) based on suggestions from WWM. Upon re-reading the FAQs, this is the sort of diet suggested by many of your crew ("various meaty foods of marine origin"). I have tried adding silversides to the rotation, but the lion doesn't like them as much as the others. What specific changes would you make to this diet?
<<Wean the fish off the fatty foods... try adding some other cut or whole marine fish to the diet>>
> A few days ago, he came out at feeding time, "hunted" the krill (his favorite), but his feeding strike was very weak,
> not nearly enough to "suck in" the food... Does this sound at all familiar?
> <Yes...>
I read the FAQs but never saw this particular issue described. There were several instances of jaw maladies where jaw
breakages/dislocations/"lock-jaw" were noted, but I haven't seen that with my fish. Others described their lionfish being completely uninterested in food, but I'm not seeing that here.
<<My experience is broader than what is presented in writing>>
Aside from continued water changes (did another 20 gal this morning) and stopping the chemical filtration (done a week ago), do you have any specific recommendations as to how to proceed?
<<Nothing that is novel. I might try a feeding stimulant/soak on any offered foods... vitamins, HUFA mix>>
Best regards, and thanks again for your time.
Dan
<<And you for yours Dan. BobF>>

Re: Lionfish not eating -- suggestions?  8/21/09
> [Re: Mg at 1800+]
> This was a deliberate action after reading the numerous success stories on Reef Central regarding the use of increased magnesium to combat Bryopsis. I recognized that this was out of "norm" but the anecdotal evidence was strong (and others reported no detrimental effects to their corals/fish).
> <<Did this work for you?>>
Hard to say. The Bryopsis has declined over the weeks/months due to diligent manual removal, a decrease in feeding, phosphate removal, etc. I started seeing problems with my tank as the Mg levels got to "target" levels (1700-1800), and I immediately initiated water changes, so it's really tough to say one way or the other the effects of this particular component. In short, the approach was not very scientific. I will continue with the manual removal and nutrient deprivation approaches until I get things stabilized.
> [the lionfish] gets a krill, or a piece of shrimp, scallop, or squid, about three times per week).
> <This is a problem too... These foods are too fatty as a steady diet>
Based on my culinary experience, shrimp, scallop, and squid are very difficult to cook correctly, presumably due to their *low* fat content. An internet search confirmed this: shrimp, scallop, and squid have about 1.4g/fat per 3.5 oz serving. For comparison, this is about the same as cod, haddock, flounder, sole, or snapper; and about a quarter (or less) that of swordfish, tuna, or salmon; and 2-3 fold less than chicken breast.
In short, they are about the least fatty marine foods available -- perhaps they have the wrong (non-HUFA) fats?
See:
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/weight/weight_table-fat-content-of-foods2.htm
<Are more concentrated with fats that are harder to digest than fish flesh>
I will write back when I have definitive results with my lionfish. Next feeding attempt will be tomorrow.
Thanks again,
Dan
<Do try some live ghost shrimp if all else is being refused. B>

Lionfish Blindness: Lionfish Health, Feeding, and Lighting 8/11/2009
Hi,
<Hi George>
I have an 8" Volitans Lionfish. I have had him for approx. 10 months. He has always displayed normal behavior. For the last 2 weeks he has been very finicky and has been eating very little.
<Feeding strikes aren't uncommon, what are you feeding him?>
The last 4 days he wont eat. Now he is swimming erratically especially at the top of the tank and he is running into the glass and other objects in the tank. He appears that he can not see.
<Lionfish blindness has a few possible causes:
1. Poor Diet
2. Intense lighting
3. Old Age\Cataracts (Aggravated by the first two causes)
Follow this link - there has been much written about this subject:
http://www.google.com/custom?hl2=en&cof2=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%
23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3A99C9FF%3BLBGC%3A336699%
3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A
0000FF%3BFORID%3A1%3B&oe2=ISO-8859-1&ie2=ISO-8859-1&forid2=1&domains2=www.WetWebMedia.com&q=lionfish+blindness&sa=
Search&sitesearch=www.WetWebMedia.com&client2=pub-4522
959445250520 >
He does not respond to me. His color has darkened, other than that I don't see any other physical changes. I have checked all of the water parameters and they are all normal. Nothing has changed in the tank and all the other fish appear fine. We lost a lionfish last year at about the same age. He was displaying this same behavior before he died. I can not find a vet in the area with any knowledge of lionfish. Is there anything you can suggest?
We really don't want to lose another Lion.
<Do read the above linked files>
Thanks,
George
<MikeV>

Re: Lionfish Blindness: Lionfish Health, Feeding, and Lighting 8/13/2009
Hi Mike,
<Hi George.>
Thank you for your response.
<My pleasure.>
We have been feeding him silversides and thawed frozen shrimp. About a month ago he began rejecting the silversides, so he has been eating only the shrimp. We also supplement with fish solutions, although only on non feeding
days. We have been feeding every other day.
<May want to try some different foods - squid, perhaps some clam.>
The lionfish is only about 1 1/2 years old, so I don't think it's due to old age.
<Ok>
After watching him the last few days, I am convinced he can not see. He is running into everything.
<If it is nutritional, the blindness can be at least partially reversed.
How much lighting is in the tank?>
He is also sticking his head out of the water like he is trying to get air, but there is plenty of aeration in the tank and none of the other fish are displaying abnormal behavior.
<Hmm....... what do your water tests reveal?>
I will read the link and we are open to any other suggestions you may have.
<Keep the lights dim for a couple of days, do look into soaking foods in Selcon - a very good vitamin supplement.>
Thank you.
George
<MikeV>

Re: Lionfish Blindness: Lionfish Health, Feeding, and Lighting 8/19/2009
Hi Mike,
<Hi George, I apologize for the delay in getting back with you, I was sent out of town on business.>
We only use the actinic lights in the tank, so it's not bright.
<Hmm... I wonder......Actinic lighting is actually more for our benefit than for anything in the tank. I would try to get this fish under some regular light as well.>
I have stepped up using the "Fish Solutions" supplement every day.
He won't eat anything. I tap him on his mouth with the shrimp and he just backs away.
<Not a good sign.>
The water test are all perfect. The only one that is up a little is nitrate, but that's only 15-25 and this is a fish only tank, so that should not be too high.
<I agree.>
The big problem is his blindness. I don't think he is going to eat because of it. I think this is the same thing that happened to our last lion. He finally starved to death after about 7 weeks without eating.
It is strange to us that both lions appear to have the same behavior after about the same amount of time in the tank. Since the ammonia, ph, nitrate, nitrites and salinity are fine, and all the other fish are fine, I can't imagine it is the tank, but it makes me wonder. Is there something else I should check?
<Beyond using some real light - something in the 6700 - 10000K range, no.>
I have noticed a lot of small white worms, very thin smooth red worms and large bristle worm in my fuge. Also, what appears to be a large blob of red algae. Is any of this harmful?
<Not harmful - actually signs of a healthy fuge.>
For now I have disconnected the fuge from the tank until I know. None of the other fish are displaying any abnormal behavior.
<Try some real light and see if that helps. Also keep up with nutritious foods.>
Thanks again,
George
<MikeV>

Re: Help! Is my tank to big for lionfish to see food?, Feeder Fish 8/18/09
Hey Chris, thanks for the quick reply!
<Welcome>
Well my water parameter are good, both ammonia and nitrate and nitrate are showing 0 and also there are two Clownfishes in it.
<Ok, but if the clowns are small enough to fit in the lion's mouth they will eventually become expensive lion food.>
The thank has been cycling for a month plus already before purchasing the fu Manchu. Well I did what you said and I tried using ghost shrimp and it works!
<Good, now to start training him on non-live foods.>
Thanks a lot for the fast and efficient reply! For the fish colouring, its pretty strong and bold, no pale colouring or whatsoever. When I first placed him in the tank 5 days ago, he straight away retreated into the rocks for shelter but no less then 2 hours later he emerged and was pretty much exploring and he wasn't affected by my presence.
<Good>
One thing I would like to clarify is , is it possible to place another dwarf fuzzy lionfish in?
<Not in this sized tank.>
I`m truly in love with lionfish and would love to set up an all lionfish tank. Cheers and thanks a lot Chris!
<Would have to be a good sized tank with oversized filtration to handle multiples for these relatively messy fish.>
<Chris>

Re: Help! is my tank to big for lionfish to see food? 8/18/09
Hey Chris, thanks again for the fast reply!
<Welcome>
Anyway, as you said, my clownfish disappear, but I have no idea if its my octopus or lionfish, I just placed the octopus inside yesterday cause my other tank wasn't ready yet, anyway, what size tank would you recommend if I wish to keep a total of 3 lionfish?
<I would go with a 100G as the bare minimum for 3 dwarf lionfish. Careful with the octopus, you may end up with no fish pretty quick and a dead octopus on your floor after he leaves the tank.>
<Chris>

Re: help! is my tank to big for lionfish to see food? 8/18/09
Would the octopus eat the lionfish?
<Unlikely put possible.>
Doesn't the lionfish sting affect the octopus?
<Don't underestimate the craftiness of the highly intelligent octopus.>
The octopus is really small, the mantle is about 1 and a half inch, the lionfish is 3 inches.
<Ever seem the video of the octopus attacking and killing sharks in the public aquarium? Not saying this will definitely happen here, but there is a reason most people keep octopus in dedicated tanks that are well sealed
to prevent escape.>
<Chris>

LIONFISH NOT EATING, reading    7/11/09
Thanks in advance for all your help.
I have a volitans lion that has been in the 75g tank with 80lbs liverock for about 8 months. He been hand fed since about 1 month in the tank, scallops, and raw shrimp primarily cut up into small pieces.
<Mmm, too fatty a diet...>
While I was out of town for the weekend of May 30, a palm sized Sailfin tank in the tank totally disappeared. Not on the floor, or anywhere in the tank. There is a hermit crab in the tank and a sand star.
<These may have consumed a good deal of the Zebrasoma...>
The only other fish in the tank are the lion, about 5" long and a snowflake eel about 12" long.
<Not these>
The tank is as escape proof as I could make it due to the eel. I think the tang was too large for the lion to eat but he hasn't eaten since then.
He will swim up to food and attempt to suck the piece in briefly but won't eat it or take it in his mouth. Last week I tried live ghost shrimp but no luck. Today I tried ghost shrimp and feeder fish.
<A poor idea...>
He chases them around the tank, lunges at them but doesn't take them in.
It seems that it may be
lockjaw but I couldn't find how to treat it in the FAQs. Please advise.
Thanks,
Sid
<Please read: http://wetwebmedia.com/lionfdgfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

LIONFISH NOT EATING II  7/14/09
Bob,
I added Iodine supplement to the tank after 50% water change. How can I force feed the fish? I've searched the FAQs with no luck. I have frozen mysis that I could make into a slurry and inject in mouth with tube and syringe, but didn't know if I should attempt to pry his mouth open to get the tube in. Any tips (other then avoiding the spines and minimizing time out of the water)?
Thanks,
Sid
<Go here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/question_page.htm
In the search tool put in the string:
Force feeding fish
Read the cached views. RMF>

Lionfish question 5/17/09
I have a lionfish that hasn't eaten in 8 days and is losing his color.
<Was he eating previously or is he a new addition?>
The stripes on his sides are turning white and I have tried frozen krill and silversides to no avail. I would try live food but between my Niger trigger, dogface puffer and porcupine puffer they don't stand a chance.
<Tankmates may very well be the issue here, what size tank is this?>
Is there any medicated drops I can put in the water.
<Even if we could diagnose an ailment to treat the fish would need to be removed to a separate quarantine tank. For the time being I would move the
fish to a less aggressive setting and try some live food, weaning it to frozen once it is eating fine.>
I don't have another tank to put him in so I was hoping there was something I can do with the tank I have him in now. Please help.
<Not really. You could always partition off part of the tank for him, but it is best to find a more suitable home for the lionfish.>
Nathan
<Scott V.>

Can I add food coloring to food for finicky lion fish
Finicky Lionfish- Better Red Than ??? (Feeding Issue) – 04/07/09
Hey, thanks for everything you do.
<Glad to be here for you! Scott F. in tonight.>
Long time lurker, first time writer. My lionfish will only eat the red colored food found in the frozen variety
packs of fish food.
<Really? Interesting...>
I would like him to eat the squid, scallops, or shrimp I purchased from the market, but he ignores any food that is not red. I have tried holding off till he is good and hungry, but to no avail. I want to add red food coloring to the other foods, but my wife thinks that would be a very bad idea.
<I have a better idea. Read on.>
Would food coloring do harm to the lion or other inhabitants of the tank? Thanks in advance.
-Henry
<Well, Henry, couldn't say one way or another if food coloring is good or bad, but I say, why bother? You can "color" food red with a really great nutritional supplement, Boyd Vita Chem. This stuff is red in color, and is a very good product that I have used for years. I soak foods like mysis, chopped seafoods, brine shrimp, etc. in this stuff for about 10-15 minutes or so until it soaks into the food, imparting a red color to the food! As far as your Lionfish's apparent fixation on red- I couldn't begin to guess why. Is there some visual clue, or perhaps it's simply coincidence that the foods he/she is attracted to happen to be red in color? Who knows? All I can tell you is that you should definitely try to get the fish to eat a variety of foods of marine origin, and if the Vita Chem soak satisfies the fish's red "fetish", go for it! Hope this helps! Regards, Scott F.>

Lionfish Health\Feeding 4/3/2009
Hi Guys
<Hi Peter>
Just looking at your site and was checking some of the other peoples blogs, but can you help me?
<Will certainly try>
I have been keeping marines for about 12 months, I started with a very small 2 foot tank. My water parameters have always been okay. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 PH 8.2 and sal 1.024, however I have always
struggled to keep my nitrates down. I moved to a bigger tank 180 ltr and I still have the problem with the nitrates, they are at 40 - 50 ppm, tried 10% changes every other day.
<What else is in the tank with it?>
In the new tank (set up in Dec 2008) I have about 4 inches of coral sand and about 40 - 50 kgs of live rock, I run a V2 400 protein skimmer a Fluval 205 ex filter, and a power head. The filter has reefresh20
just added, Rowa-phos, carbon and sponge filter. I have 2 blue hermits and 6 Turbos, and a recently purchased fuzzy dwarf lion fish. He seems not to be eating, been in there since Sat, 28th March. I was told he was feeding fine on frozen shrimp although I never saw him feeding, but they are a reputable dealer recommended by fishkeeper mag.
<I wouldn't worry too much unless the feeding strike goes over 10 days.
You may try feeding with the lights off.>
He has 2 clouded eyes, since Wednesday.
<Usually water quality\Diet\Injury. Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/liondisfaqs.htm >
He swims about when the light off which I thought was norm. But hides upside down in a cave when the light comes on, again I thought this the norm.
<Is normal, they can, with time, become more active during the day>
Are the water parameters the problem, and if so do you have any ideas other than water changes to get the nitrates down?
<Need more information regarding what else is in the tank, how much and how often the tank is fed, etc.>
I have lost fish before (velvet) and I had a nasty feeling it was the nitrates but I am not sure.
<Poor water quality can make fish more susceptible to disease, but it did not cause Velvet..
I was on the verge of giving up at one point, due to losing my fish ( very disheartening seeing fish die) and I don't wish it to happen again, well not unnecessary. Please can you give me any advise, I have spoken to a number of dealers, and other than the water changes they can't help, is it due to the coral sand as there is a lot?
<If it is trapping a large amount of uneaten food and\or fish waste, it can. There has been much written on this subject. I suggest you start here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm >
Oh the dwarf is not eating yet either tried frozen shrimp, and frozen brine shrimp, I really don't want to go down the live fish road unless I have to.
<Try some live brine shrimp with the lights turned down>
Kind regards
Peter Findler
<My Pleasure>
<Mike>

Re: Dwarf Lionfish Health\Feeding 4/8/2009
Hi Mike
<Hi Peter>
Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I did a check on the water with just the salt added, 0ppm, so I take it that cycle is loaded with nitrates?
<Hmm.... Possible, seems unlikely though. In any case, in a properly set up tank, it is not necessary.>
Anyway I will only use it when I do a major water change. One other question if you could help me.... how do I wean the fuzzy off the Neons and onto frozen food?
<As soon as possible>
I have tried offering frozen shrimp ( raw ) as he now comes to the surface when I open the lid, but he does not seem interested.
<It does take time. You can try mixing a little 'dead" food with the live and see if he takes it, or put it at the end of a stick and jiggle it so it seems alive.>
Although if someone offered me a pizza when I had been getting steak, I would probably do the same. He is doing fine though and he is keeping a close eye on my blue hermits.
<Excellent news.>
Regards Peter
<My pleasure, Mike>

Lionfish Health\Stocking\Feeding 3/27/2009
Thanks Mike,
<Hi Elise, my pleasure.>
Actually, the damsels and clowns steer clear of him.
<Fair enough, but do keep an eye out, Damsels do tend to get aggressive with age.>
I forgot to ask for a little advice on diet. I've been trying to research this, and the only thing I'm sure of is what NOT to feed him (feeder goldfish!).
<Very true.>
He seems willing to eat anything, and I'd like to vary his diet beyond the cubed stuff and krill.
<The Lionfish will appreciate that.>
Should I be going to the seafood section of my supermarket and getting him whatever marine fish they have there?
<Usually the best place>
Like shrimp, tuna, Mahi Mahi? I've read nothing oily, but I don't know what's oily and what's not.
<Uncooked, peeled shrimp, scallops, clams, octopus or squid if they have it. Salmon tends to be oily, Basically, anything uncooked and fit for human consumption is fine.>
Should I head down to the beach and scavenge for whatever crustaceans I can find?
<Please don't, this runs the risk of introducing disease\parasites into your tank.>
Thanks again
Elise
<Mike>

Lionfish with hole in lower jaw... nutr. deficiency   1/29/09 I am in need of some help with my Dwarf Lionfish. I have a 210 gallon system. I have had the Lionfish for approximately 8 months. When I first got him the only thing I could get him to eat were ghost shrimp. I eventually got him to eat thawed krill. <These are insufficient nutritionally> He has been growing & doing great until....about a month ago he completely quit eating. <Bingo> I have always fed him his food from a small net. As soon as I would put the net in the tank he was right there ready to pounce. Now....nothing. He swims away from the net as if it is annoying him. I kept trying everyday, unsuccessfully, to feed him & then noticed last week that he has a hole in his lower jaw! I can see right through it & it is about the circumference of a pencil. The skin around the hole looked normal until today. It now has small dark red spots around the edge of the hole. Kinda looks like when we scratch our skin & it gets little spots of blood. I went and got some ghost shrimp today. At first he seemed annoyed. A couple ghost shrimp got away then he appeared to go after one. I couldn't tell if he got it or not since I was standing on a step stool, looking at his reflection in the glass. My tank is a custom build into the wall between my kitchen & living room so you can see through it. It is only accessible from the kitchen side & he likes to hang out on the other side. I have searched & can't find any info on what might be wrong with him. Is it possible he tore the skin on the live rock? <Mmm, yes... but the lack of color, flesh on the head is telling...> Or does it sound like disease? <Yes... a nutritional deficiency> I am pretty ignorant when it comes to knowing my about my system. We started it up 8/2007. All maintenance is done by LFS. I am slowly learning as we go. A couple weeks ago my nitrates went crazy (80+) <This also...> we discovered that all of the algae in the refuge was turned to mush! But before that everything was fine. We have cured that problem with water changes & the new algae is thriving. But I am still very concerned about my lionfish. Any help is greatly appreciated! Leigh W. <Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/lionfdgfaqs.htm and the linked files above. This fish is missing vital (necessary) nutrients... is suffering from a long lack of same. Bob Fenner>

Choking cardinal   1/10/09
Hi marine gurus,
<Yo!>
Small problem here. I want to train my newly acquired lionfish to accept frozen food, so I put a small piece of frozen krill in my tank, and to my surprise, my pajama cardinal chomped it down, except it didn't fit and an hour later the head is still sticking out of the cardinal's mouth. He doesn't seem to be terribly uncomfortable, but I'm wondering if I should help him out.
<I would not... more likely to cause damage>
Should I net him, and try to pull the krill out with tweezers?
<I would not>
(By the way, I do know that I will need to move the cardinal to another home at some point, but for now I think it's OK, the lionfish is very small, and the cardinal quite big).
Thanks in advance,
Elise
<Mmm, very likely the food will go one way or the other, and the Apogonid will end up in the Pteroine. Bob Fenner>

Re: choking cardinal, and Lionfish nutrition/feeding  1/13/09
Thanks, Bob, you were right. The krill was gone in about a day. I do have a concern about the lion, I've been searching but can't find a specific answer. His tail has what looks like a hole or a tear, it was small at first, but it's bigger every day. Now it looks like there was a big bite taken out of the back of the tail, though I know that's not it. (He's housed with a couple damsels
<Mmm, what sort of Damsel species?>
and the cardinal). I would suspect parasites, but it's just in this one specific spot.
I've been trying to train him on frozen foods, but no luck yet. I've given him a feeder goldfish a couple of times a week,
<... need to have go w/o food for a few weeks perhaps>
which he devours. He doesn't seem distressed.
Thoughts? thanks!
Elise
<Is living (for a while) on the goldfish... Please read on WWM re this.
BobF>

Lionfish Choking  12/25/08
Hopefully by the time you read this, the Lionfish will have swallowed/spit out the piece of krill, but if not, then it will probably be in dire trouble. My Volitans Lion is pretty young, only about five inches, and I've had it for several months now. Usually I feed it ghost shrimp and the occasional black molly, and I've only tried frozen food a few times. This Christmas week, not having the time to go out and buy food for the lion, I fed it some frozen krill, which I have fed it twice before with some success. However, this time its second piece
<Mmm, too much... one piece every few days is sufficient here>
was a bit too big and it appears to be choking. Usually it will swallow it after five minutes or so, but this has been in its mouth for almost an hour, and while its thrashings have lessened, it still continues to, you know, thrust its mouth out. It's breathing is very heavy and it already has another piece of krill in its stomach. It isn't 'belly up' spasming on the floor yet, but I am nevertheless concerned as this has never happened before. Because it is Christmas (Merry Christmas by the way, I love your site) you probably won't see this until after this problem has passed, but what is your opinion. I've read your other articles which say to remove the food with tweezers if the situation gets desperate, but I don't know if my situation is bad or not-the piece of krill has a tiny bit of it sticking out of the Lion's mouth, just an antenna-thing, and I can still see the krill's black eye in the lion's mouth. It's mouth is normal, although at first the inner part was still unfolded. Thanks for the help.
<Mmm, that this fish is still with you/us after an hour or so... is indication that it will likely survive. I would not try extracting the krill here... much more likely to damage the fish... and/or yourself. Happy holidays. Bob Fenner>

Re: Lionfish Choking  12/26/08
Thank you so much for your prompt reply, and luckily my volitans did survive.
<Yay!>
And actually that second piece was meant for my other larger lion who ended up not getting his dinner after all.
<Ahh!>
Happy Boxing Day!
<And to you and yours... BobF, who's having a Boxing Day party later this eve>

Help (Pterois; not eating) 12/20/08
my lion fish wont eat. uv filter 125 gallon wet dry. sting ray , purple tang, Koran angel and damsel. He ate a damsel (back white stripe) a week ago.
<Why did he eat a Damselfish? Do you feed live fish to this Lionfish deliberately? That's extremely unwise. The use of freshwater feeder fish (minnows and goldfish for example) is now widely believed to cause serious harm to marine predators, so I'm assuming you haven't used those.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/goldfshfd.htm
But even saltwater fish have the possibility of introducing parasites and bacteria. Any fish "cheap" enough to be viable as a feeder fish is not likely to be kept under the best of conditions. Many marine fish -- including damsels -- also have sharp spines, and if not swallowed in just the right way can cause problems, especially if the size of prey offered is wrong for the size of the predatory fish being kept. If you think about small children choking on peanuts, you'll understand the basic problem, even though this analogy isn't reflecting precisely what's happening. Do see Bob's article on Pteroids generally to read up on feeding Lionfish and their allies. In captivity it isn't at all difficult to get these fish eating frozen foods, and the more varied that diet, the better. The commonest mistake is overfeeding: like all predatory fish, these animals are easily given far too much food. Wild fish likely go days without a meal, and even if it takes a couple weeks to train your Lion to take frozen food, that will do it no harm whatsoever.>
Ate some not much. Now wont eat.
<There are three things to consider here: disease, environmental problems, and social behaviour. First up, reflect on its previous feeding regime. If you've been using feeder fish, then organ damage (from the fat in goldfish/minnows) is possible, especially if this fish is, say, a couple of years old. Feeder fish can introduce parasites and bacteria of various types, to observe the fish for sings of abnormal swelling, unusual faeces, lethargy, and so on. If you've offered the same type of food week after week, monotony can set in, and the animal will simply be bored. Secondly, review the environment in terms of water quality and water chemistry. Heavy use of feeder fish is particularly likely to cause higher than normal amounts of nitrogenous waste. I'm a fan of "a little, but often" feeding of predatory fish rather than bulk feeding once a week. But either way, the point is that if you're offering lots of food, every day, then water quality is very likely to be poor. Finally, social behaviour. Lionfish generally expect to be "top dog" but can be bullied by the usual suspects:
triggers, pufferfish, angels, some surgeons. Have you added anything new?
Are any fish getting particularly big or territorial now? If the Pterois feels put upon, he's likely to react negatively.>
The ray and he have always snuggled.
<Sounds dangerous, snuggling up to anyone covered with venomous spines! I'm worried your tank is overstocked. You have a LOT of animals in a 125 gallon system (I'm assuming US gallons, rather than Imperial gallons, so about 470-odd litres). Again, review water quality and chemistry.>
They are doing so still. I added a Koran angel.
<Adding new fish when you're already dealing with a problem isn't a good idea.>
Seems everything is fine but he wont eat. He usually eats shrimp brine, squid, and spot.
<What's "spot"? Brine shrimp, by the way, are useless. Bob calls them "popcorn" for fish. Certainly, they don't contain any useful nutrition.
Fine as a treat, in particular as a boost of roughage to avoid constipation, but shouldn't be a major source of food.>
Wont touch anything. i am worried. ph normal.
<Salinity? Redox? Alkalinity? There's more to marine fishkeeping than pH, and what do you mean by "normal" anyway? We need numbers!>
Thank you for help. did water change clean filter everyone else eats. He tracks then acts like he make a play for it then stops? Thank you.
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: help (Pterois; not eating) (RMF, am I being too hard here?)<<Umm, no. RMF>> 12/22/08
Your info is a lot of help.
<Happy to oblige.>
No on the cheap feeders.
<My point is that you shouldn't use feeder fish at all. Ever. Too many risks and problems, no tangible benefits.>
I have 5 fish. lion he has gotten large. ray small.
<Small at the moment. Few species have a disc width of less than 60 cm, and the majority are much, much bigger. You WILL need a bigger tank within the next few months. Do please understand that Stingrays do not do well in captivity; or more specifically, they are FAR less tolerant of crowding and poor water quality than bony fish. This holds for both freshwater and saltwater rays. Even a 200 gallon tank is only a temporary home for a small specimen, and successful ray-keepers keep them in tanks around 500 gallons in size. That's just not realistic for most hobbyists, hence the consistent advice here that generally people avoid saltwater rays.>
puffer ( star n stripes) small.
<Won't be small for long. Again, this is a massive fish when mature, easily a good 35-40 cm in length. While hardy in itself, it's messy and can be snappy, and in a cramped aquarium can, will molest more delicate species.
Pufferfish certainly will bully or nip at Lionfish, as improbable as that might sound.>
Koran angel, small juvenile. tang, purple with yellow fins, med size.
<Do remember fish don't come in "sizes", they come at different ages. An Angelfish or Tang that's 10 cm/4 inches now will be a full-grown adult a year from now. In the case of a Pomacanthus semicirculatus, the Koran Angel, that's a fish well over 30 cm/12 inches in length. Surgeonfishes come in a range of sizes, but few are small fish, and most are in the 20-40 cm/8-16 inches size bracket.>
Loin eats- shrimp, brine and squid. Large spot (fish) cut small. The lion and ray do snuggle he lays his spins soft for him. I know it sounds strange.
<Be incredibly careful about forcing human emotions and perceptions onto animals. That is the path to disaster!>
No i am not over stocked.
<Yes, you really are. Massively.>
I have 5 fish in 125 gallons. My ammonia is slight
<"Slight" ammonia is bad. A healthy, safe, properly stocked aquarium has zero ammonia. Any ammonia level not equal to zero is B-A-D bad. Your tank is likely overstocked, under-filtered, and quite probably over-fed.>
I did a 25 gallon water change. Added buffer, salt and dechlorinator. The Koran was added before the problem with lion was visible and happening. He ate the damsel.
<Don't do this again. There's honestly no point. If you like seeing one animal attack another, then please go try out a blood-and-guts computer game like Quake. Lots of death and destruction there. But in your aquarium, the aim is that any and all fish coexist. Feeding live fish to your Lion serves absolutely no useful function, and has the potential to cause lots of problems.>
I thought everything was fine he was just full.iam not the type to add a
fish when i am having a problem. I do stay on top of my tank. I took 6 months buying my equipment before I set it up.
<OK.>
i am so dedicated that we are going to get a 300 gallon for ray once he gets bigger.
<Good.>
I am already collecting my equipment for his larger home when it is time. He is still small. loin, He acts like something is stuck in his throat.
<Could EASILY be the (now dead) Damselfish. Perciform fish (of which the Damsel is an example) have erectile spines on the dorsal and anal fins. In the wild they raise these spines in a last-ditch attempt to get predators that have captured them to spit them out. Usually predators swallow such fish head first, and this allows them to use their throat muscles to force the spines back down again. But if the predator is inexperienced (as is the case with specimens in captivity) it often happens the predator doesn't know how to do this, because it hasn't learned how to do this by capturing prey all its life. If it swallows the Perciform fish tail-first for example the fin spines cannot be forced down, and the prey item gets wedged in its throat. This is a surprisingly common problem, and why I advise that those people keeping predatory fish that cannot take non-live fish foods (of which your Lion is NOT an example) should use fish without spiny fins. This means they shouldn't use Damsels or Cichlids, but rather (home-bred, gut-loaded) species such as Killifish and Poeciliid livebearers.>
Large open mouth movements.
<Could be laboured breathing, a common reaction to poor water quality. Stop feeding your fish, all your fish, and do everything you can to get ammonia levels down to zero. Check that the tank is spotlessly clean. Review filtration methods. You should have a spectrum of filter types including live rock, a skimmer, and one or more auxiliary filters of some type, such as an external canister filter rated to a turnover of 8-10 times the volume of the tank per hour. Check each filter is correctly maintained and working properly. In a healthy aquarium there shouldn't be any ammonia at all; that you can detect ammonia implies a problem.>
He plays for the fish (food). I give the tang and angel leaf (salad) or zucchini. - change the filters one at a time over 3 days. Ph is 8,0 nitrates slight elevated ammonia real slight so the water change all values in normal ranges now. I usually try to feed every 2 or three days to the ray, lion ,puffer. My fish have always gotten along no problems in 7 months.
<Famous last words! Seriously, just because fish get along now, doesn't mean they will in the future. Tangs, Angels and Lions generally get along okay, though all three would prefer to be "top dog". Arothron spp. puffers are boisterous rather than bullies, but nippy specimens can kill Lionfish.
You might imagine a Lionfish is so dangerous everything would leave it alone, but not so. Puffers can nip at their fins, allowing infections to set in, killing the Lion. Stingrays -- in all honesty -- have no place in your, or most peoples, marine aquaria. They're just incredibly difficult to maintain, and I doubt even 5% of the specimens purchased go on to live for more than a year or two. I've been keeping fish for some 25 years, and wouldn't dream of keeping a Stingray, freshwater or salt. I just feel they're better appreciated in the wild.>
This is the first problem. I was told to put in guppies. i am regretting it after reading your email.
<Less reputable retailers will indeed to tell people to keep Lionfish fed on Guppies or Goldfish or whatever. There's absolutely no need to do so, and lots of very good reasons NOT to do this. Lions are very adaptable and will consume a wide variety of prey. Here in England it's common to settle them in with live river shrimp (the equivalent to what I believe Americans call "glass shrimp"); Palaemonetes, Palaemon, Crangon type things. Lions accept them readily, and since the shrimps are herbivores, it's easy to gut-load them with vitamin-rich Spirulina flake food. Once the Lion is settled and any weight loss from shipping dealt with, you can wean it onto a mixed seafood diet. Prawns, mussels, squid and strips of non-oily white fish is a popular mix. By the time the Lion has learned that you're the one serving the meals, it's generally pretty open to the idea of eating whatever you throw into the tank, dead or alive. There may be a battle of wills for a couple of weeks, but so long as you stick to your guns, the Lionfish will eventually give in and take the dead food. From then on, it's easy to give a balanced, healthy diet for pennies a week. Best of all, Lionfish on dead food diets are less aggressive, so they can be kept in groups under aquarium conditions. Pterois spp. at least appear to be gregarious in the wild, as well as somewhat nocturnal (or at least crepuscular) but keeping them in groups seems to encourage them to swim about happily during the day. It's a Win-Win for everyone!>
I was told that I had him to much on non active food. Try live. I think I screwed up.
<Common mistake; don't feel too bad.>
If there is a fin stuck in his mouth from the damsel what can I do for him.
<You personally, very little; handling a live Lionfish without [a] stinging yourself and [b] doing anything helpful for the Lionfish will be difficult.
You could net the fish and then try to use a long, smooth, non-toxic stick (like a plastic chopstick) to open its mouth and peer in. But anything that requires you to bring your hand close to the fish is OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS and has to be avoided. A vet trained in handling fish (there are a few) may be able to offer assistance. For now observe the fish carefully, and try to see if you can "look into" the mouth and down the throat. But do also review water quality. That you have ammonia in the system is bad, and that's something that needs addressing.>
All our other fish are to large for him to eat. Everyone else gets on very well. We aren't getting or adding anymore fish. I do not want a over stocked tank. I do believe this is why I have not had a lot of problems.-i want to thank you for your time.
<We're happy to help. There is much here to read; Bob Fenner has written much on the maintenance of Pterois. Start here, and follow the various links at the top of the page:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lions&rels.htm
These are generally hardy fish that do well in captivity, but there are a few problems to look out for. Ironically, people "loving" their fish too much and buying them lots of feeder fish are actually the folks who end up with the most problems.>
Please write me more about what you think for lion. I am worried for him. I don't need the sugar coated letter.
<I'm British, and we don't usually do sugar coating, except maybe around the Queen!>
I am grateful for the straight forward manner you deliver your info. Merry xmas*
<Merry Christmas to you, too. Cheers, Neale.>

Lion fish diet 11/10/08
Bob,
I am writing an essay for a college where. U am. discussing the impact of human error on the destruction of ecosystems (namely reefs). I am writing on the introduction of lion fish. as alien species in North Carolina and the Caribbean. I. am basically making a projection that the increase of lion fish. in areas where there are no natural predators will cause extinction of species that are found in their natural diet. I would like to know. a natural. food that lion fish eat such as a species of shrimp or crab that is found in North Carolina or the Caribbean that a lion fish could possibly consume to the point of extinction.
Thanks again,
Zach
<Zach, thanks for writing. Lion fish will eat any species of fish, crab, shrimp that can fit in their mouth. Lion fish are the ultimate predators and obviously can thrive in sub-tropical and even colder water conditions. I personally have witnessed lion fish (in captivity) eat any smaller fish ranging from a clown fish to small trigger fish. Good luck with the report.
Ian B>